Top 10 Must-Have Tropical Plants for Queensland Gardens
Protea Pink Ice
Description:
Protea 'Pink Ice' is a hardy, evergreen shrub celebrated for its large, pink flowers and silver-green foliage. This South African native hybrid is known for its drought tolerance and long-lasting blooms, making it ideal for use as a specimen plant, in mixed borders, or as a cut flower in floral arrangements. Its striking flowers and unique foliage bring a bold, structural element to garden landscapes.
Flowers:
'Pink Ice' produces large, cone-shaped flower heads with soft pink bracts and a dark central cone. Blooming primarily in autumn and winter, these stunning flowers are a magnet for pollinators and make excellent cut flowers due to their durability and unique appearance.
Foliage:
The plant has leathery, silver-green leaves that are narrow and pointed, providing an attractive, textured backdrop to the vibrant flowers. The foliage remains vibrant throughout the year, adding year-round interest to the garden.
Fruit:
This variety does not produce notable fruit, as its ornamental value lies in its striking flowers and foliage.
Form and Size:
Protea 'Pink Ice' has an upright, bushy growth habit, typically reaching a height of 1.5 to 2 meters with a similar spread. Its moderately dense form and bold foliage make it suitable as a standalone specimen or part of a mixed shrub planting.
Growing Conditions:
This plant thrives in full sun and requires well-draining, slightly acidic soil. Protea 'Pink Ice' is highly drought-tolerant once established and can handle mild frost, making it adaptable to various climates. It’s best suited to sandy or gravelly soils and benefits from minimal fertilization.
Uses:
'Pink Ice' is versatile in the landscape, ideal as a focal plant, in mixed borders, or in wildlife-friendly gardens. Its long-lasting flowers make it a valuable addition to cut flower arrangements, and it performs well in dry, Mediterranean-style gardens.
Maintenance:
This variety is low-maintenance but benefits from light pruning after flowering to maintain its shape and encourage denser growth. Avoid heavy fertilization, especially with high-phosphorus fertilizers, as Proteas are sensitive to phosphorus. Applying mulch around the base helps retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.
Notes:
Protea 'Pink Ice' is valued for its drought tolerance and long flowering season. Its unique blooms and foliage make it a popular choice for gardeners seeking an eye-catching, low-maintenance shrub suited to warm and dry climates.
Companion Plants:
Pairs well with other Mediterranean and drought-tolerant plants such as Leucadendron, Banksia, and Grevillea. It also complements ornamental grasses and succulents, adding contrast and texture to xeriscape gardens.
Common Name: Pink Ice Protea
Botanical Name: Protea 'Pink Ice'
Family: Proteaceae
Origin: Hybrid, South Africa
As we cannot guarantee stock all year around on Pots & Plants please hit us up via the chat button and we can get back to you with availability
Quantity:
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Delivery Options
- We Offer a local Sunshine Coast delivery service in our Truck.
- Orders placed before Tuesday 9.00am will be Delivered on Wednesday and or Friday of that week on the Sunshine Coast.
- For more information on Deliveries outside the Sunshine Coast please click here
Product Availability
Plants & Pots come and go all year around.
- Plants are seasonal and sometimes we run out but have more batches coming along.
- Some Plants are not always in-store however we can either order it in or deliver it to your door. pending availability
- Available numbers change every hour of the day in store and where we grow so please check in with us on how many you are looking for
- we have access to thousands of plants. if you are looking for a specific plant please let us know and we will see if its coming into store soon or if we can order it for you.
- we will sometimes keep plants on our website to show you the description of how it grows and its specific characteristics. they may not be in stock all the time however we will keep it up online so when it comes in we wont have to reload products
- the above information is exactly the same for Pots. they come and go all year around so please send us a message via the chat button and we will get back to you with availability
Where are our plants Grown and how do we grow them
- Plants are grown locally on the Sunshine Coast
- All outdoor plants are sun hardened and ready to grow
- Indoor plants are grown under 50% Shade and will transfer perfectly to indoor use
- Orchids are also grown under 50% Shade and are best brought indoors during flowering for show then returned back into a shaded area until the following flowering time
- we are Qualified horticulturists, greenkeeper as well as Qualified landscape Construction with over 35 years experience in the industry. We use Quality products and materials to grow all our plants.
- Visit us instore and get the right advice the first time to make your plants succeed
How to Look after your plants like we do
- When using any Garden Care products or Fertilisers we always recommend reading the label before use
- We recommend using Earthlife crushed rock mineral on all plants when planting in the ground or in Pots.
- When planting in Pots in Our garden centre we use Rocky Point potting mixes to plant all our plants
- If planting in the ground we also recommend that you use Rocky Point garden soil around your plants at the time of planting